Material applying apparatus



July 11, 1961 G. c. KUN-rz 2,991,598

MATERIAL APPLYING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1959 RESERI/O/l? INVENTOR.

Arfo/PA/EY This invention relates to a metal nishing and moreparticularly to a device for automatically applying a liquid butiingcompound directly to a bung wheel.

In hand buftng operations the solid bar type butiing compound hasgenerally been used primarily due to a lack of an adequate means ofapplying a liquid type compound. The use of the solid bar type bungcompound suers from several inherent disadvantages which can bealleviated by the use of `a liquid bufling compound. The solid bar typebufting compound, for example, is more expensive per pound than is theliquid type buting compound. Moreover, the solid type compound isusually more difficult to clean from buifed articles than is the liquidtype compound. Adequate cleaning is a necessity for buf-fed articleswhich are to be electroplated.

Moreover, the whole bar of solid bufling compound is not usable since itis necessary `to hold some portion of the bar while applying it to thebutiing wheel. Generally about 1/3 of the bar, that amount held in thehand, is unusable until remelted and cast into larger bars. In addition,the bar type compound being relatively dry does not stick to the wheelas Well as the liquid type, resulting in a large waste and dirt problem.

Heretofore, the only useful means for applying a liquid buiiing compoundto a hand wheel was by an air operated spray gun. The use of the spraytechnique in applying the liquid compound to the ywheel involves thepurchase of costly spray guns and an elaborate gun control apparatus.Additionally, numerous operating problems, such as plugged nozzles,replacement of Worn nozzles, leaky packings, etc. complicate theoperation. Moreover, the relatively dirty working conditions due to thewasted compound which was oversprayed land not picked up by the wheelmake this type of application impractical and undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the problemsinvolved in previous methods of applying a buiing compound to a handbufting wheel. My invention alleviates these problems by providing a newmeans for applying a liquid bufling compound to the bufting wheel.

My invention comprehends a liquid buiing compound applicator whichplaces a quantity of liquid bufng compound directly onto the surface ofa buing wheel Without atomization. The applicator involves a generallytubular body member having a supply head which is placed directlyagainst a butling wheel. Liquid butling compound from a pressurereservoir is conveyed to the applicator which has suitable regulatorymeans to both control flow from the Ireservoir and also residual ow fromthe applicator. The liquid compound issuing from apertures in the supplyhead is picked up and worked into the surface of the buting wheel so asto obtain maximum utilization of the compound.

My invention provides a means of applying a liquid bufhng compound to ahand buffing wheel with a minimum of loss, such as never hereto-foreachieved. It provides advantages inherent in the use of a liquid buingcompound Without the numerous operating problems, such as compound Wasteand messy Working conditions, that existed vn'th the spray gun techniqueof applying a liquid bumng compound. In addition, a central source ofsupply can be utilized Without the high cost and elabrates Patent oratecontrol systems required for spray gun application.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description of a specificexample thereof and 'from the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an elevational view of a liquid bufiing compoundapplicator comprehended by my invention;

FIGURE 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the applicator shown inFIGURE l; and v FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View of theapplicator shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURE 2 Shows a liquid buiiing compoundapplicator such as comprehended by the invention. The applicator has agenerally tubular body member or barrel 10 and a T-shaped tubular supplyhead I12. One end 14 of the body member is internally threaded toreceive an externally threaded coupling member 16 which connects aliquid buing cornpound conduit 18 to the body member 1i). The oppositeend of the body member 10 is externally threaded at 20 yfor attachmentof a supply T 22 by means of an adaptor 24. The supply T has its endsclosed to form a chamber 28 therein. The body member has a chamber 26therein which is in communication with the chamber 28 by means of aninterconnecting passage 30. The supply T 22 has a shield 32 thereonwhich conforms to the external radial contour of the supply T.

Rods 34 are secured to the shield 32 to lock the shield on the supply T22 and yet permit the shield to rotate around the supply T. The edges ofthe shield are crimped at 36 to inhibit lateral movement of the shieldon the supply T. The supply T has a plurality of aper- .tures 38therein. Corresponding apertures il in the shield member 22 registerwith the apertures 38 in the supply T when the shield is rotated aboutthe supply T.

A passage 42 connects the buffng compound conduit 18 Iwith a plungervalve 44 in the body member 10. The body member has a transverse bore 46which is internally threaded at 48 to receive a valve port member 50.The valve port member, in turn, has a bore 52 Iwhich is internallyrelieved at 54 to receive a control button S6. The plunger valve yle hasa vert-ical extens-ion 58 projecting upwardly through the bore S2 in thevalve port member into engagement with the control button S6. Theplunger valve is biased upwardly into closed position by a sup-portingspring 60. The valve port member 50 has a multiplicity of ponts 62therein which communicate the bore 52 of the valve port member 50 withan adjacent annular collection chamber 64. The collection chamber, inturn, communicates with the body chamber 26 through the interjacentpassage 66.

An extension 68 of the shield 32 functions as a trigger for theapplicator. The extension 68 projects back along the body member 10 fromthe supply head 12 to the plunger valve 44. A boss 70 on the lowersurface 72 of this extension or trigger is brought into engagement withthe plunger valve control button 56 by depression of the trigger. Thisaction, of course, simultaneously rotates the shield 32 about the supplyT 22. The trigger 68 is biased upwardly by a spring 74, which is securedby soldering or the like to the lower surface 72 of the trigger and theupper surface 76 of the body member.

A liquid buiiing compound contained in a suitable pressure reservoir '78is conveyed to the applicator by means of the conduit 18. The compoundflows from the conduit 18 through the passage 42 to the plunger valve44. When the trigger 68 is depressed the plunger valve 44 is opened andthe apertures 40 in the shield are registered with corresponding holes38 in the supply T 22. The liquid buffing compound ows through theplunger valve and the valve ports 62 into the annular collection chamber64. From the collection chamber the bung compound passes through t-hepassage 66 into the relatively large body chamber 26. The buing compoundthen flows from the relatively large body chamber linto the supply T 22through the interconnecting passage 30. The buing compound exits thesupply T through the apertures 38 therein and the registering apertures40 in the shield 32.

With the release of the plunger valve 44, the pressure supply of liquidbufting compound is stopped. The rst movement of the trigger 68 permitsthe plunger valve to close. Further movement of the trigger rotates theshield 32 to such an extent as to cause the apertures 40 in the shieldto be removed from coincidence with the apertures 38 in the supply T,thus inhibiting any residual flow of buing compound lfrom the applicatorafter closure of the plunger valve. The transfer of the compound fromthe conduit to the relatively large chambers 26 Iand 28 in theapplicator additionally tends to inhibit residual iiow of the compoundfrom the applicator.

ln operation the applicator is placed in contact with a rotating buingwheel 80 so that the buiiing compound which is dispensed is immediatelytaken up and worked into the surface of the wheel. Since this contactwith the buiiing wheel may tend towear the surface of the shield, lprefer to coat the shield with a layer of a wear-resistant material. Arelatively heavy layer of chromium metal has proved to be satisfactory,Electrodeposited chromium coatings having a thickness of approximately0.0015 inch have been used. In general any suitable wear-resistantmaterial can be employed provided it is of suiiicient thickness andadherence to withstand use of the applicato-r for a satisfactoryduration Without exposing the base metal.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certainspecific examples thereof, no limitation is intended thereby except asdened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device for applying a liquid bui-ling compound directly onto abuing wheel comprising a barrel member, means for supplying liquidbuting compound under pressure to said barrel, means for regulating theiiow ot butiing compound from a reservoir to said barrel, a supply headon said barrel adapted for direct contact with a buihng wheel, saidsupply head having at least one opening therein for dispensing saidbufring compound, yand means associated with said opening for adjustingthe flow of liquid bulhng compound therethrough.

2. A device for applying a liquid buiiing compound to a buihng wheelcomprising a reservoir of liquid buiiing compound, a barrel, means yforsupplying liquid buiiing compound under pressure from said reservoir tosaid barrel, rst means for regulating flow of bufng compound from saidreservoir to said barrel, a supply head on said barrel adapted fordirect contact with a buing wheel, said supply head having at least oneopening therein for dispensing said bufling compound, and a second meanscoacting with said first means and associated With said opening foradjusting the iiow of liquid butling compound therethrough.

3. A device for applying a liquid buiiing compound to a buiing Wheelcomprising a barrel, means for supplying a liquid bufling compound underpressure to said barrel, regulatory means associated with said barrellfor controlling the flow of said buing compound through said barrel, asupply head on said barrel adapted for direct contact with a buiiingwheel, said supply head having a movable shield, said supply head havingat least one opening therein for dispensing said buiing compound, saidshield having at least one opening therein corresponding to said openingin said supply head so that relative movement therebetween generallyregisters said openings, and means for simultaneously generallyregistering said openings and actuating said regulatory means.

4. A device for applying a liquid bufling compound to a buffing Wheelcomprising a barrel, means for supplying a liquid bung compound underpressure to said barrel, valve means in said barrel for controlling theflow of buiing compound into said barrel, a supply head on said barreladapted for direct Contact with a buing Wheel, said supply head having amovably mounted shield member, :a coating of a wear-resistant materialon said shield member, said supply head having a plurality of openingstherein for dispensing said buing compound, said shield member having aplurality of openings corresponding to said openings in said supply headso that relative movement therebetween generally registers saidopenings, and an extension on said shield for actuating said valve sothat movement of said shield simultaneously actuates said valve andgenerally registers said openings.

5. An article of manufacture for dispensing a viscous materialcomprising a barrel, means for supplying a viscous material underpressure to said barrel, regulatory means associated with said barrelfor controlling the flow of said material through said barrel, a supplyhead on said barrel, said supply head having a member movably mountedthereon, said supply head having at least one opening therein fordispensing said material, said member having at least one openingtherein corresponding to said opening in said supply head so thatrelative movement therebetween generally registers said openings toadjust the flow of said material therethrough, and means forsimultaneously adjusting said regulatory means and registering saidopenings.

6. An article of manufacture for dispensing a viscous materialcomprising l-a barrel, means for supplying a viscous material underpressure to said barrel, valve means associated with said barrel forcontrolling the flow of said material through said barrel, a supply headon said barrel having a lateral extension adapted for direct contactwith a buing wheel, said supply head having a movable shield thereon,said supply head having at least one opening therein lfor dispensingsaid material, said shield having at least one opening thereincorresponding to said opening in said supply head so that relativemovement therebetween generally registers said openings, and anextension on said shield for lactuating said valve and simultaneouslygenerally registering said openings.

7. An article of manufacture for dispensing a viscous materialcomprising a barrel, means for supplying a viscous material underpressure to said barrel, regulatory means associated with said barrelfor controlling the flow of said material through said barrel, a nozzleon said barrel having a generally tubular, lateral extension, saidnozzle having a rotatably mounted shield thereon conforming to theexternal radial contour of said nozzle, said nozzle having at least oneopening therein for dispensing said material, said shield having atleast one opening therein corresponding to said opening in said nozzleso that relative rotation therebetween generally registers saidopenings, and an extension on said shield for actuating said regulatorymeans and simultaneously generally registering said openings.

8. An article of manufacture for dispensing a viscous materialcomprising a barrel, means for supplying a viscous material underpressure to said barrel, regulatory means associated with said barrelfor controlling the flow of said material through said barrel, a nozzleon said barrel having a generally tubular, lateral extension, arotatable shield on said nozzle conforming to the external, radialcontour of said nozzle, a coating of a wear-resistant material on saidshield for contact with said buing wheel, said nozzle having at leastone opening therein for dispensing said material, said shield having atleast one opening therein corresponding to said opening in said nozzleso that relative rotation therebetween generally registers saidopenings, and an extension on said shield for actuating said regulatorymeans and simultaneously generally registering said openings.

9. An aiticle of manufacture for applying a liquid buffing compound to abung wheel comprising a barrel, a nozzle on said barrel having a lateralextension, a chamber in said barrel communicating with a chamber in saidnozzle, means for supplying a liquid bufling compound under pressure tosaid chamber in said barrel, valve means in said barrel for controllingthe flow of a bung compound into said barrel chamber, a shield mem-bermovably mounted on said nozzle, said nozzle having a plurality ofapertures therein for dispensing said bull-lng compound from said nozzlechamber, said shield member having a plurality of apertures thereincorresponding to said apertures in said nozzle so that relative movementtherebetween generally registers said apertures, and an extension onsaid shield for actuating said valve so that movement of said extensionsimultaneously actuates said valve and generally registers saidopenings.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS821,415 Hess May 22, 1906 949,193 Molinari Feb. 15, 1910 1,983,634Nichols Dec. 11, 1934 2,488,682 Rapoport Nov. 22, 1949 2,511,486 ThamesJune 13, 1950 2,683,062 Cartwright a July 6, 1954

